Just like humans, cats can be prone to dry skin, this can have an impact on the overall condition of not only the skin but the fur as well. The skin contains thousands of sebaceous glands which secrete an oil (known as sebum) to keep the skin lubricated and moist. Both internal and external factors can lead to dry skin in cats.

If your cat has ringworm, you will notice circular, raised patches with hair loss.

Itching is one symptom of dry skin, however, an itchy cat doesn't necessarily have dry skin. There are a number of reasons your cat may be itchy which is covered in this article here. Sometimes the two conditions do in fact overlap and the dry skin and itching is caused by an underlying medical condition. This is why it is important to see your veterinarian determine if your cat has dry skin, and why, or if he is itchy for another reason, such as parasites etc.

How is the cause of dry skin diagnosed?

As you can see, there are a number of conditions which can cause dry skin in cats. You veterinarian will check your cat thoroughly and obtain a medical history from you. The age of your cat, accompanying symptoms (if any), and a history of diet can all give your veterinarian a clue as to the cause. Dry skin in older cats, especially if accompanied by weight loss can be indicative of kidney disease or hyperthyroidism (which is quite common in middle-aged and older cats). Older cats are more prone to arthritis and general loss of mobility and may experience difficulty grooming themselves. If your cat is itchy, he may have a food allergy.

Your veterinarian may wish to perform some medical tests to assess the overall health of your cat & check for underlying medical conditions. This may include:

Allergy testing - If he suspects your cat is suffering from an allergy he may wish to perform an intradermal skin test. An area of fur is shaved and your veterinarian will inject a minute amount of common allergens to the skin to see how the cat responds.

If a food allergy is suspected, he may choose to put your cat on a novel diet (such as duck) for several weeks to see if the dry skin and other symptoms subside. Your cat will then be re-introduced to his usual diet and if the symptoms return, it is suggestive that the cat is allergic to something in his diet.

T4 testing to evaluate for hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism.

Skin scraping test to check for parasites.

How is dry skin treated?

Obviously, if there is an underlying cause, addressing that will help. Treatment options may include:

Change in diet for cats suffering from food allergies or intolerances.

Removal of the allergen (where possible) for other allergies.

If the cause is dietary, such as malnutrition or poor quality food, feeding a well-balanced diet should help. Your veterinarian may recommend supplementing the diet with omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in fish oils.

If your cat is elderly or has trouble grooming himself, daily grooming can help to improve the condition of his skin and coat. Grooming increases blood supply to the skin.

Don't bathe your cat as often and if you must bathe him (I have found this unnecessary in all the short haired cats I've had), use a shampoo formulated for cats with sensitive skin. Never use human shampoos or soaps on cats.

Try to increase humidity in the home, especially during winter when air can become very dry.

Parasites will be treated with anti-parasitic medications. If your cat has ringworm, he will need to be given either oral medications (usually Griseofulvin) or lime sulfur dips. All bedding should be washed thoroughly as ringworm is highly contagious (and can spread to humans).